FLO congratulates Fairtrade Foundation and Nestle UK for this week’s announcement that Kit Kat will be Fairtrade certified in the UK and Ireland. The first Fairtrade Kit Kat bars will appear on shelves in mid-January 2010.

“This announcement brings the possibility of real change to tens of thousands of cocoa farmers and their communities in Ivory Coast – one of the world’s poorest countries. The Fairtrade certification of Kit Kat in the UK and Ireland gives farmers the opportunity to sell more than 16 000 tonnes of cocoa on Fairtrade terms annually to supply the largest global chocolate brand in its largest global market,” says Rob Cameron, CEO of FLO.

Farmers in the Kavokiva cocoa cooperative will be one of the first to benefit from the switch. The organization was Fairtrade certified in 2004, but until now has sold only small volumes on Fairtrade terms. The move will not only enable them to increase Fairtrade cocoa sales but will also impact other Fairtrade certified farmers’ groups looking to enter the Fairtrade market. There are currently seven Fairtrade certified cocoa co-operatives in Côte d’Ivoire and many eager to gain certification.

“FLO applauds Nestlè UK for taking this significant step towards changing the nature of the cocoa industry as we know it today, bringing us one step closer to our vision of reducing poverty through sustainable development. We look forward to deepening our relationship with Nestle UK and working together towards this vision,” says Cameron.